Rotary agitator for generating oscillating motion



May 1, 1951 I c. c. DICKINSON 2,551,206

ROTARY AGITATOR FOR GENERATING OSCILLATING MOTION Filed Nov. 21, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E I I 6 4 l CHARLES C. DICKINSONv 2 Bnoentor W I r attorney May 1, 1951 c. c. DICKINSON 2,551,206

ROTARY AGITATOR FOR GENERATING OSCILLATING MOTION Filed Nov. 21, 1942? SSheets-Shget 2 CHARLES C D/CK/NSON inventor y 1951 c. c. DICKINSON 2,551,206

ROTARY AGITATOR FOR GENERATING OSCILLATING MOTION Filed Nov. 21, 1949 3 Shets-Sheet 5 CHA PL E3 C. DICKINSON Iinventor patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES '1" sin ROTARY AGITATOR FOR GENERATING OSCILLATIN G MOTION 10 Claims. 1

The invention relates to agitating and mixing machines and more particularly to a machine designed to receive, in the original container, an entire drum or barrel of liquid or dry material and to rotate it slowly in such a fashion that the entire contents is thoroughly and completely agitated by being moved circumferentially and oscillated longitudinally of the barrel or drum as the barrel or drum is rotated about one of its diagonal axes.

The existing products of this type have been subject to several disadvantages. Primary among these disadvantages has been the necessity for providing a special container for holding th material being processed by the machine. These special containers normally have to be cleaned after each operation. Particularly is this true when such materials as paints are processed and the different mixing operations involve different colors. Another major disadvantage has been the fact that most of the products of this type are so constructed that it is necessary to lift the material containers in loading and unloading them from the machine. This is strenuous, time-consuming work when the material involved is heavy. Other disadvantages include the complexity of the machines and the high initial cost attendant such complex and expensive structures.

My invention provides an agitating machine eliminating these disadvantages by providing a structure in which the heavy containers may be mounted on and removed from the machine without the necessity of any lifting by the operator or by special machines. My invention is also designed to receive and process the materials in their original drum or container, and it is capable, within a limited range, of handling containers of various sizes. Furthermore, my inven-' tion accomplishes these ends by means of a simpleand sturdy structure suitable for economical manufacture.

My invention has another distinct advantage over existing products of this type in its versatility. Existing products are limited to one or two types of operations whereas my machine will successfully perform a wide variety of operations. Besides operating as an efficient mixer and disperser for chemicals, paints and similar liquids, it may be used to mix plaster and deburr such items as machine parts and castings. By placing a length of heavy chain in the container or drum it may be used to mix such products as sweeping compounds or to clean barrels. No successful machines have heretofore been developed for such operations as plaster and sweeping compound mixing or for barrel cleaning. The capacity of my machine to successfully embrace all of these varied operations is due in part to the type of motion generated by the machine and in part to its ability to carry on its agitating operation in the materials original container. Such a machine is ideally adapted to plants carrying on a number of varied operations since the machine is not limited to just one of their operations.

Therefore, the objects of my invention are to provide a machine capable of agitating numerous types of materials and, further, which is capable of having the containers of materials to be agitated mounted thereon and demounted therefrom without lifting by the operator. Other objects of my invention include the construction of a machine utilizing standard material containers, eliminating the necessity for cleaning numerous special containers as the types of materials are changed. It is also my purpose to provide a sturdy, low cost machine adaptable to a wide variety of seemingly unrelated operations.

Other objects and purposes of my invention will be quickly seen by those acquainted with the art of material mixing and agitating upon reading the following specification and th accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of my invention showing the agitating rack in loading position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of my invention showing the agitating rack in operating position.

Figure 3 is an oblique view of the cradle structure for my invention.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation view of my invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of m invention taken along the plane VV of Figur 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation view of the base for my invention taken along the plane VI--VI of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a sectional elevation view of the disk and structure for the rack of my invention taken along a plane perpendicular to the axis of the rack supporting shaft.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sideelevation view of the cradle clamping mechanism for my invention showing the clamping mechanism in operating position.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the cradle clamping mechanism for my invention showing the clamping mechanism in inoperative position.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary oblique view of the rack and gear mechanism for pivoting the cradle of my invention.

In executing the objects and purposes of my invention I have provided a mixing machine having its entire driving mechanism cradled in a frame. This frame is pivotally mounted in order that the material container will, in mixing position, have one of its diagonals substantially parallel to a horizontal plane and, in loading position, will have its longitudinal axis parallel to the horizontal plane. The structure includes a drive and a rotatable mixing rack for supporting the container during the mixing operation.

In the following description the terms upwardly and downwardly are freely used and are to be taken as meaning upwardly in the direction as shown in Figure 1 and downwardly away therefrom. The terms inwardly and outwardly are also freely used and are to be taken as meaning inwardly toward the geometric center of the machine and outwardly away therefrom.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral I indicates a base having a pair of side members 2 and end members 3. The base I is equipped with a cross-member 4 welded to the side members 2. A pair of side vertical standards 6 and a pair of end vertical standards 5 are welded to the base I. The end vertical standards 5 are spaced in from the side members 2 an appreciable distance and are each secured at their upper end to inwardly extending headers I. The side vertical standards 6 are each rigidly connected to one of the headers I by a top element 8. Each of the frames formed by one of the end vertical standards 5, side vertical standards 6, headers I and top elements 8 is braced by an inclined buttress member 33. Each of the buttress members 33 is welded to a header "I and a side member 2. The side vertical standards 6, end vertical standards 5, headers "I, top elements 8 and buttress members 33 collectively constitute the main supporting frame. of operation, generates severe oscillating motions throughout the entire machine structure, the main supporting frame must be constructed of heavy gauge, rigid materials, welded together to form a strong, rigid unit. For additional strength the joints of the supporting frame are reinforced with gussets 44.

The ends 34 of the headers 1 adjacent the side vertical standards 6 project, longitudinally of the machine, a short distance beyond the top elements 8. A spindle or axle 9 is mounted between these projecting ends 34 of the headers I, transversely of the machine, for pivotally supporting the cradle ID by means of the bushings 64. As so mounted, the hereinafter described cradle It may be pivoted longitudinally of the mixing machine for adjusting the angular position of the material drum or container I5. The cradle I0 consists of a pair of substantially trapezoidal side frame members II and crossmembers I2. The inward verticals of the frame members I I are extended downwardly to provide the legs IT. The cradle ID, adjacent the lower end of the legs I I, is equipped with a rod I4 for mounting the half rack I3. The half rack I3 is mounted substantially midway between the legs I "I.

At the forward end of the cradle I0 is a pillow block I B supporting at its upper end a main thrust bearing I9. At the outward end of the Since the mixing machine, by its mode cradle I0 is a second bearing I6 mounted on the outward one of the cross-members I2. The bearings I6 and I9 are aligned and a shaft passes through them. A heavy gauge plate 2I (Fig. 3) is welded to the horizontal members 22 of the side frame members II and to the inward one of the cross-members I2. The side frame members II, cross-members I2, and plate 2| are all welded together to provide a strong, integrated unit. On the plate 2I a motor 23 and associated gear reduction assembly 24 are mounted by bolts. A sprocket 25 is mounted on the gear reduction assembly and is operatively connected to another sprocket 26 on the shaft 20 by means of a chain 21. The sprocket 26 is associated with an overrunning clutch 28 for driving the shaft 20. The inward end of the shaft 25 projects beyond the confines of the cradle Ill for mounting the rack 29.

A shaft is rotatably mounted in the lower ends of the end vertical standards 5. The shaft 35 is equipped with a spur gear 36 (Fig. 10) for engaging the half rack I3. A guide or yoke 31 is mounted on the shaft 35 about the spur gear 36 and is equipped with a pair of rollers 28 at its upper end. The yoke 37 receives the half rack I3 between its sides and by means of the rollers 38 maintains the half rack I3 in constant engagement with the spur gear 36. One end of the shaft 35 projects beyond the end vertical members 5 and is supported by a bearing 39. The bearing 39 is supported by the bracket 65. This end of the shaft 35 is operatively connected to a crank arrangement 40 by means of a sprocket and chain assembly M. The crank 40 is mounted (Fig. 4) by means of a plate 6'! and suitable bearings 68 to the supporting frame adjacent the upper end of one of the side vertical standards 6.

Below the shaft 35 a journal 42 is mounted on each of the end vertical standards 5 (Figs. 5, 8 and 9). A rod 30 extends between these journals 42 for pivotally mounting the clamp element 43. The clamp element 43 is equipped with an L-shaped channel member 3| at its inward end for engaging the notch 32 at the bottom of the legs I]. Pivotal movement of the clamp element 43 is controlled by the actuator rod 45 which constitutes a cam member by means of the sections of secondary rod 46 welded to it. The operation and purpose of this arrangement will appear more fully hereinafter.

The rack 29 consists of a large disk 58 mounted on the inward end of the shaft 20 by means of the boss member 5| (Figs. 1 and 2). The boss member 5| is bolted to the disk 50 and secured to the shaft 20 by means of a key and keyway arrangement and a set screw. A substantially circular mounting plate 52 is secured to the disk 50 but projects radially outwardly from the disk 50 at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the axis of the shaft 20 (Figs. 2 and'l). Thus, the mounting plate 52 contacts the disk 50 only at one small point A on the periphery of the mounting plate 52. At this point the mounting plate 52 is welded to the disk 50. The radially outer ends of the outer portions of the mount ing plate 52 are braced and secured to the disk 58 by pillars 53. The point of contact A of the mounting plate 52 and the disk 50 is closely adjacent but not at the center of the disk 50. This point of contact A is sufficiently removed from the center of the disk 56 that when a drum, such as a standard 50 gallon alcohol or oil drum is mounted in the rack 29, its upper inward corner substantially corresponds with the axis of the shaft '29. A circular guide 49 is concentrically mounted on the mounting plate 52 for properly seating the container 15. The guide 42 may be made detachable from the mounting plate 52 in order that guides of various diameters may be used to correspond to the diameter of the drum to be mounted. It is also possible to replace the circular guide 49 by a number of small projecting shoulders. The shoulders would be arranged in concentric circles, the size of each of the circles corresponding to the inside rim diameter of one size of drum.

A pair of access holes 54 (Fig. 7) are out in the mounting plate 52, one on each side of the point of contact A, to permit installation of the bolts 4'! securing the disk 59 to the boss member 5!. A pair of rods 55 diametrically positioned across the mounting plate 52 are welded to the mounting plate and extend therefrom at a right angle. One of the rods 55 is mounted between the access holes 54 adjacent the point of contact A between the mounting .plate 52 and the disk 59. The other of the rods 55 is diametrically spaced therefrom across the mounting plate 52. The rods 55 are of such length that they will project substantially beyond any barrel or container which might be placed on the mounting plate 52. At their outward ends the rods 55 are welded to a terminal plate 56. plate 56 is further secured to the disk 59 by means of the braces 57. The terminal plate 55 is equipped with a central opening for receiving an internally threaded collar 58 which collar is rigidly secured to the terminal plate. The collar 58 mounts the clamp assembly 59 to the terminal plate 56. The clamp assembly 59 consists of a bearing plate 55 on one end and a handle 6| on the other end connected by a threaded spindle 62 passing through the collar 58. A winged locking member 63 is mounted on the spindle 52 between the handle 5! and the collar 58.

The base i projects outwardly from the area of the cradle l5 beneath the rack 28 the entire length of the rack 29. The outward end of the base I is covered by a platform T9 (Fig. 5) welded to the side members 2, end member 3 and crossmember 4. The platform IE! is divided, longitudinally of the base I, by a channel ii. The outward end of the channel H is widened to form an opening 48 for receiving a portion of the terminal plate 58 as the rack 29 is lowered into the loading position as shown in Figure 2. The cross-member 4 is notched 72 (Fig. 6) to receive one of the rods 55.

The various parts making up the rack 29 are welded together and, like those making up the frame and base I and the cradle 10, should be fabricated from a strong and rigid material, such as steel, to withstand the heavy load imposed upon them.

Operation With the cradle l9 pivoted such that the rack 29 is in its horizontal position as shown in Figure l, the machine is ready for loading. When pivoted into the loading position, the lower of the rods 55 seats within the channel H and the notch 72 in the cross-member 4. In this manner the lower one of the rods 55 is placed below the level of the platform '19 whereby it will not interfere with the loading of a container such as a drum I5 betweenv the mounting plate'52 and the bearing plate 6,0. For the load- The terminal ing operation the winged locking member '63 is loosened to permit the clamp assembly to be opened. When the drum 13 is. in position the clamp assembly 59 is tightened to cause the bearing plate 69 to press the drum l5 securely over the guide 49 and against the mounting plate 52'. The winged locking member 63 is then tightened to secure the clamp assembly 59 in position. The drum I5 having been loaded, the crank 49 is operated'to rotate the rod 35 by means of the sprocket and chain assembly 4l..

This in turn operates the spur gear 36, moving the half rack l 3 inwardly. The movement of the half rack causes the cradle l9 and its associated rack 29 to pivot inwardly raising the rack 29 to its inclined operating position. When the cradle It has reached a position wherein the legs I! are vertical, the clamp element 43 is forced upwardly into the notch 32 by rotation of the cam rod 45. Rotation of the cam rod 45,

lhe machine having been pivoted to. place the.

drum l5 in the position shown in Figure 2, the machine is ready to operate. By activating the motor 23, the rack 29 is caused to rotate with the shaft 29. This rotation causes the drum 15 to travel a substantially conical path by which an oscillating motion of the contents of the drum is generated. The rotation of the shaft 29 is relatively slow, but as it turns, the material within the drum I5 is caused not only to circulate radially within the drum by means of a combination of inertia and centrifugal forces but also to oscillate back and forth lengthwise of the drum due to the repeated changes in relative vertical position of all of the, various parts of the drum except that adjacent the geometric center of the drum. When it is desired to mix liquids, it is preferable to fill the. drum only partially in order to permit a sloshing motion within the drum to expedite the mixing process. This combination of rotatory and oscillating movements ensures not only intermixing of the various particles of material with those particles immediately adjacent such particles but. ensures constant redistribution of the particles throughout the length of the drum. Thus, the formation of pockets of unmixed or partially mixed materials is prevented. Further, by constantly redistributing the material throughout the drum,

a product processed in my invention is of iden-.

tical consistency throughout its entire mass.

The use of the overrunning clutch 28 also contributes materially to the mixing action of the machine by rotating the drum at uneven speeds. The rack 29 will be turned at the velocity of themovement of the chain 27 throughout a portion of one revolution. It will then come to a point at which the overrunning clutch will disconnect the sprocket 26 and the shaft 29, at which point the rack 29 will cease to move until the movement of the sprocket 26 catches up with the overrunning clutch 28. At this time the rack 29 will be jerked forwardly again to continue its revolution. This stopping and Starting motion causes the material within the drum to be oscillated with much greater velocity than would be created by a movement of constant angular velocity. When an even oscillating motion is desired the overrunning clutch 28 may be replaced iby a standard friction clutch or similar mechanism to provide a constant connection between the motor 23 and the shaft 25. Whatever type of motion is desired, it is preferable to have some type of clutching mechanism between the motor 23 and the shaft 26. Unless such a clutch is provided, it is substantially impossible to halt the revolution of the rack 29 at a point where the rod 55 will enter the channel H and slot 12. When a clutch is used, the motion of the machine may be stopped at any point in its revolution and, by disenagement of the clutch, the operator may rotate the rack 29 to the proper position for lowering the rack to unload the drum I5.

When the machine is used for cleaning barrels or mixing such materials as sweeping compound, a chain is placed in the drum before the drum is loaded on the machine. As the machine is operated, the motion of the barrel 15 causes the chain to oscillate from one end to the other and to slide along the entire inside surface of the drum. In a cleaning operation, the chain serves to scrape off the dirt and scale, and in a mixing operation the movement of the chain serves as an agitator for thoroughly mixing the different materials.

Upon completion of a mixing or cleaning operation, the rack 29 is lowered and the drum l5 disengaged by the clamp assembly 59. After the drum of processed material has been rolled away, a new drum may be placed on the machine. Since the material is already in its own container, it is unnecessary to transfer the material from the drum into a regular container or to clean containers between operations.

Numerous modifications of my machine may be made, such as by redesigning the frame and the cradle and cradle-supporting structure or providing more or less complicated equipment to replace the half rack !3. It is also possible to equip the machine with automatic switches and solenoids for preventing operation of the motor 23 unless the cradle is locked in the proper operating position. It is also possible to provide powered means for pivoting the cradle it and rack 29. The terminal plate 56 may be replaced by a simple bar between the rods 55, and the bearing plate 66 may be replaced by a spider. These and other refinements to the mechanism herein described may be made without departing from the principle of my invention, but

each of these modificationsare to be considered as included" within the hereinafter appended claims except where the language of such claims expressly provides otherwise.

I claim:

1. In an agitating machine having a supporting frame and adapted to process materials in prising: a cradle; a shaft rotatably mounted on said cradle; a rack for clamping and supporting a container, said rack free on one of its ends and mounted on the other of its ends to one end of said shaft eccentrically of and inclined at a substantial angle to' the axis of said shaft; means on said cradle for rotating said shaft; means for mounting said cradle and rack to said supporting frame for pivotal movement parallel to said shaft;

iii

' 65 their original containers, the combination com-' 8 a platform vertically aligned with said rack for supporting and aligning containers being loaded on said rack when said rack is at one extremity of its pivotal movement.

2. In an agitating machine having a support ing frame and adapted to process materials in their original containers, the combination comprising: a cradle assembly; a shaft rotatably mounted on said cradle; a base plate mounted on one end of said shaft for rotation therewith; a mounting plate; one edge of said mounting plate secured to said base plate adjacent the center of said base plate; another edge of said mounting plate spaced substantially outwardly from both the center and the surface of said base plate whereby it is inclined to the axis of said shaft at a substantial angle; rods secured to said mounting plate and extending outwardly therefrom; clamping means on the ends of said rods for securing a material container to said mounting plate; a source of mechanical energy mounted on said cradle for rotating said shaft; pivot means mounting said cradle at its upper end to said frame for pivotal movement axially of said shaft; whereby said mounting plate in one position is inclined at a substantial angle to a horizontal plane and in another position is substantially perpendicular to said horizontal plane; latching means for securing said cradle with said rack in inclined position.

3. In an agitating machine as described in claim 2, wherein a rack and gear assembly is provided for moving said cradle pivotally; a loading platform vertically aligned with said rack for supporting and positioning containers being loaded on and unloaded from said rack.

4. In an agitating machine as described in claim 2, wherein a source of mechanical power is mounted on said cradle; an overrunning clutch for connecting said motor and said shaft; a loading platform vertically aligned with said rack for supporting and positioning containers being loaded and unloaded from said rack.

5. In an agitating machine having a supporting frame and adapted to process materials in their original containers, the combination comprising: a cradle; a shaft rotatably mounted on said cradle; a rack mounted on said shaft for rotation with said shaft; spindle means for mounting said cradle 011 said frame for pivotal movement parallel to the axis of said shaft, whereby said rack may be pivoted to a loading position and to a processing position inclined substantially from said loading position; a plat-.

drums of material to be processed and having a supporting frame, the combination comprising:

a cradle assembly; a shaft rotatably mounted on said cradle assembly; a rack mounted on one end of said shaft for rotation therewith; said rack including a mounting plate mounted eccentrically of said shaft and inclined at a substantial angle' thereto and means for clamping a drum against said mounting plate; a substantially horizontal platform below said rack; means for pivotally mounting said cradle and associated rack to said supporting frame whereby in one pivotal position said mounting plate is perpendicular to said plat-f form and in another position is inclined at a substantial angle to said platform.

7. In an agitating machine having a supporting frame and adapted to process materials in their original containers, the combination comprising: a cradle assembly; a shaft rotatably mounted on said cradle; a rack free on one of its ends and on the other of its ends mounted to said shaft eccentrically of and at a substantial angle to said shaft; means on said rack for clamping a material contain-er thereto; means mounting said cradle assembly to said frame for pivotal movement parallel to said shaft whereby in one pivotal position of said cradle, said rack is substantially parallel to a horizontal plane and in another pivotal position said rack is inclined at a substantial angle to said horizontal plane; a platform vertically aligned with said rack for supporting and aligning containers being loaded on said rack when said rack is in its horizontal position.

8. In an agitating machine having a supporting frame and adapted to process materials in their original containers, the combination comprising: a cradle assembly; a shaft rotatably mounted on said cradle; a rack free at one of its ends and on the other of its ends mounted to said shaft eccentrically of and at a substantial angle to said shaft; means on said rack for clamping a mate rial container thereto; means mounting said cradle assembly to said frame for pivotal movement parallel to said shaft whereby in one pivotal position of said cradle, said rack is substantially parallel to a horizontal plane and in another pivotal position said rack is inclined at a substantial angle to said horizontal plane; a platform vertically aligned with said rack; the Walls of said platform defining a channel for receiving a portion of said rack when said rack is in its horizontal position.

9. In an agitating machine having a supporting frame and adapted to process materials in their original containers, the combination comprising: a cradle; a shaft rotatably mounted on said cradle; a rack for receiving and supporting a 10 container, said rack free on one of its ends and mounted on the other of its ends to one end of said shaft eccentrically of and inclined at a substantial angle to the axis of said shaft; means for rotating said shaft; means for mounting said cradle and rack to said supporting frame for pivotal movement parallel to said shaft; a platform vertically aligned with said rack for supporting and aligning containers being loaded on said rack when said rack is at one extremity of its pivotal movement.

10. In an agitating machine having a supporting frame and adapted to process materials in their original containers, the combination comprising: a cradle; a rack for receiving and supporting a container and having a pair of ends, said rack free on one of its ends and rotatably mounted at the other of its ends to said cradle; means for rotating said rack; the axis of said rack between said ends disposed eccentrically of and inclined at a substantial angle to the axis of said rotation; means for mounting said cradle and rack to said supporting frame for pivotal movement parallel to the axis of said rotation; a platform vertically aligned with said rack for supporting and aligning containers being loaded on said rack when said rack is at one extremity of its pivotal movement.

CHARLES C. DICKINSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 866,056 Parker Sept. 17, 1907 1,424,154 Clark Aug. 1, 1922 1,887,174 Wells Nov. 8, 1932 2,203,430 Goldberg et al June 4, 1940 2,482,976 Harwood Sept. 27, 1949 

